Artists & Illustrators December 2025 Sample

WORK FROM LIFE

WITH NITRAM CHARCOAL

“From an early age I was fascinated by the classical world and have since held a strong interest in the works of the Old Masters. Their work, skill and knowledge hugely inspire my practice. I prefer to work from life using traditional methods and I highly value the use of quality materials in my process. I endeavour to bridge the distance between the rich history of classical art and the contemporary world with the use of traditional techniques to narrate contemporary perspectives.

With high quality materials such as Nitram Charcoal, artists can execute their creative ideas without breaking their work-flow or compromising their vision. I have found no other drawing medium that can offer the consistency, flexibility and precision that Nitram Charcoal can. For these reasons it has become irreplaceable in my practice.”

~ Alexander Kai

artist from

for

in the UK,

an

situated

in portraiture. Having always been drawn to classical arts and portraiture, in 2022

to

in England. He is now in his third year at The Florence Academy of Art

to learn more about traditional skills and techniques of the Old Masters - contributing to the preservation of this valuable knowledge that has been

generations.

work has been shown in galleries in Wiltshire and London and gained recognition in various exhibitions. He regularly takes commissions and holds local events. You can follow both his academic journey and work on his website www.alexkaiart.com and Instagram @alexanderkaiart

Regulars

SKETCHBOOK Quick tips, ideas and inspiration. Plus, this month’s exhibitions

PRIZE DRAW Win in-person private art classes worth £1,000

WE PRESENT… British Art Club member Cat Croxford

HOW I MAKE IT WORK with former cheesemaker Luke Williams

PICTURE THIS Oil artist Sally Muir tells us why her painting of her old dog is so special

Inspiration

IN THE STUDIO Suffolk-based artist, David Riches shares how his memories inform his en plein air work

HOW I PAINT Portrait artist, Kathy Barker on how she captures the essence of her subjects

BOOK EXTRACT

A curated selection of inspiring words and images from visionary women in art

THE BIG INTERVIEW with portrait artist Caroline Pool EXHIBITION Celebrating Anna Ancher, a visionary

People’s Choice vote now open!

SERIES Hashim Akib introduces the beauty of working with flat colours in the final instalment of his brilliant acrylic series

STILL LIFE Learn how to paint winter hellebores with ferns and ivy in watercolour

OIL Ann Witheridge paints

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“True art is very powerful: the greatest paintings have souls.”

So said Dame Tracey Emin, and her words feature – alongside other prominent female artists of the last 150 years – in an exclusive book extract in this month’s issue. Our cover artist, Kathy Barker, will no doubt concur. She likes to capture the essence of a person by the tilt of a head or an impression only made by the sitter. Caroline Pool, who features in The Big Interview, likes to portray the older population, because their faces weather history and each has a story to tell: stories which should be celebrated. Re ecting all walks of life, after all, is what makes paintings powerful.

For practical features, Hashim Akib wraps up his brilliant six-part acrylic series with a demonstration on the beauty of working with at colours, while watercolour favourite Grahame Booth shows you how to paint a snow scene en plein air (brrr!). For those of you who prefer working in the warmth, a mother and daughter duo show you how they paint winter hellebores, while Patrick Bremer encourages you to sit down with a pair of scissors and a pile of old magazines (hands o your past issues of Artists & Illustrators!) and create a collage. It looks like a lot of fun and how he ‘paints’ a portrait is nothing short of mesmerising.

Lastly, judging has now closed on this year’s British Art Prize. The standard was impossibly high, making the judges’ job beyond tough, but we now have our shortlist of 50 fabulous paintings. The overall winners will be revealed in the next issue but, for now, we’d like to get you voting for The People’s Choice Award, the full details of which can be found on page 46. Over to you. Our fabulous website for showcasing and selling your art

Niki Browes Editor

INTRODUCING

KATHY BARKER

This month’s cover artist trained at Wimbledon School of Art in Fine Art Paintingand Printmaking. She was awarded a studio at the Florence Trust, London, and is a full member of the Society of Women Artists. While portraiture lies at the heart of her work, she also paints landscapes and still life.

ANN FLYNN

Ann is a full-time professional painter. She has won a number of prizes for her work, most recently at the prestigious Mall Galleries. Alongside studio practice and commissions she exhibits in galleries across Ireland and has been selected for the RHA Dublin, the RUA Belfast, the RSMA and the ROI London.

Luke completed Art Foundation at Kingston University and a BA in Illustration at the University of t he West of England. He trained and worked as an English teacher, before then training as a cheese maker. He reignited his love for art during Covid and now exhibits regularly.

POOL

After working in set design for feature lms throughout her twenties, Caroline followed her instincts and returned to painting. Predominantly a portrait artist, her work addresses society’s representation of the ageing population and celebrates their wealth of life experience through paint.

EDITORIAL

Editor

Niki Browes

Art Editor

Stuart Selner

Assistant Editor

Ramsha Vistro

Contributors

Hashim Akib, Louis and Morgaine

Davidson, Amanda Hodges, Sarah Edghill, Ann Witheridge, Grahame Booth, Patrick Bremer

info@artistsandillustrators.co.uk

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TIPS • ADVICE • EXHIBITIONS • NEWS • REVIEWS

EDITED BY RAMSHA VISTRO

Editor's pick...

From rustic barns to Riviera villas, Pablo Picasso’s studios were engines of invention. Picasso: From the Studio at the National Gallery of Ireland, in partnership with Musée national Picasso-Paris, takes visitors to the heart of his creative process. With more than 60 works spanning painting, sculpture and paper, the exhibition reveals how space, muse and moment collided to shape a modern master. This is Picasso as never seen before: intimate, inventive and entirely transformative. On until 22 February 2026. nationalgallery.ie ▫

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TURNER PRIZE 2025

The latest Turner Prize brings together artists who play with space, materials and memory in unexpected ways. Nnena Kalu’s swirling, cocoon-like forms, Rene Matić’s layered photography and sound, Mohammed Sami’s quiet, absent gures and Zadie Xa’s immersive, otherworldly installations all invite curiosity. On until 22 February 2026, Cartwright Hall, Bradford. bradfordmuseums.org

BOOK OF THE MONTH

FLOWERS IN WATERCOLOUR

Lois & Morgaine Davidson

Written by the creators of the hit YouTube channel Lois & Morgaine Davidson Art, this book teaches artists to capture the delicate beauty of blooms. From wild owers to exotic garden favourites, this guide o ers step-by-step instruction, essential techniques and inspiration, helping beginners and enthusiasts alike paint owers with con dence and bring luminous watercolour compositions vividly to life. GMC Publications, £9.99

15 NOVEMBER

The Beyond Future Art Prize invites artists 15+ to explore the theme 'Thrive Together,' connect globally, and showcase their art internationally. Free entry. beyondfuture.art Open calls, prizes and artist opportunities

27 NOVEMBER

Submit your artwork to the 15th Annual Nature Online Art Competition for a chance at global exposure. Open to 2D and 3D artists worldwide, entry starting at $18. lightspacetime.art

These pages are packed with artistic inspiration, but if you're after more, explore the fabulous Artists & Illustrators website. A go-to resource for artists across all disciplines, it o ers a wealth of practical guides, exciting competitions and engaging interviews. Discover even more creative resources and inspiration. See you there. artistsandillustrators.co.uk

2 DECEMBER

Enter the 8th John Ruskin Prize, open to artists, designers and makers aged 18+ of any nationality. Total prize fund of £9,500. Entry from £15 per work. ruskinprize.co.uk

5 DECEMBER

Join the Light & Shadow 2025 Art Competition to explore light and shadow and gain worldwide recognition. Open to artists everywhere, from $25 per entry. fusionartps.com

DRAWING

NATURE’S PALETTE

Beautifully soft texture ● Nature-inspired colours Made in England

In a fast world, there’s beauty in slowing down.

Try something new.

Create something wonderful.

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Be inspired...

by the extraordinary vision of Bryan Organ, whose portraits of gures such as Prince Charles, Sir Harold Macmillan and Elton John reveal far more than mere likeness. Marking his 90th birthday, Bryan Organ: Picturing People traces the evolution of a painter who captures humanity through form, colour and composition. In an exclusive extract, art historian Sir Roy Strong re ects on being painted by Organ – an artist who distils a lifetime of observation into a single, unforgettable image. thamesandhudson.com

ART AND ARTEFACTS

London-based artist Renee So brings a fresh, provocative perspective with Commodities: Sculpture and Ceramics. Inspired by Chinese history, tradition and the museum’s own collection, she presents over 30 works. New pieces explore silk production, female agency and the commodi cation of Chinese artefacts. Visitors can also trace her creative process through sketchbooks and preparatory works, experiencing how history, myth and contemporary commentary converge in her multifaceted, deeply researched practice. comptonverney.org.uk

THE DRAWING YEAR 2025

The Royal Drawing School’s End of Year Exhibition o ers a rare chance to see what emerges from a full-scholarship, intensive drawing programme. More than 500 works on paper – from prints to intricate observational studies – demonstrate the skill and experimentation of postgraduate students. It’s an inspiring glimpse into the creative minds shaping contemporary drawing. For readers, wandering through the exhibition is a way to discover new talent, note fresh techniques and perhaps even take cues for your own artistic experiments. royaldrawingschool.org

MULTICULTURAL VISION

Born in Cuba in 1902 to a Chinese father and African mother, Wifredo Lam merged European modernism with Afro-Caribbean visual traditions. Studying in Spain and Paris, he engaged with Picasso, Breton and surrealist circles, shaping his distinctive style. Returning to Cuba in 1940, Lam’s art became a powerful response to social and political injustice. A new monograph, publishing 30 October, o ers fresh insights into his symbolic, pictorial language and enduring in uence on 20th-century art and politics. thamesandhudson.com

NEW DISCOVERY

Researchers have uncovered the original 1619 drawing that inspired the barking dog in Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. Made by Adriaen van de Venne, the sketch shares pose, head tilt and collar details with the famous painting. Underpainted studies show Rembrandt initially mirrored the dog even more closely. For art lovers, this highlights the value of revisiting references, observing subtle details and tracing how ideas evolve. Even centuries later, careful study can reveal surprising connections and creative insight. rijksmuseum.nl

Christopher Wool’s latest London exhibition is his largest since 2004. The display shows how chance, gesture and layering can create striking e ects. Paint, silkscreen and erasure mingle across surfaces, with repetition and scale generating subtle rhythm. Sculptural forms echo his painterly gestures and hints of the creative process remain visible. Why not try it yourself? Revisit old sketches, experiment with overpainting, or layer di erent media to uncover unexpected relationships and let your own work evolve in surprising ways. On until 19 December 2025 at Gagosian, Grosvenor Hill, W1K 3QD. gagosian.com

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A WEEKEND OF ALLA PRIMA STILL LIFE PAINTING

INDRACCOLO 4-7 DECEMBER

IMPROVE YOUR PORTRAIT PAINTING. PERFECT FOR ARTISTS OF ALL LEVELS

LIZET DINGEMANS 8-9 NOVEMBER MOVE BEYOND PAINTING THE HEAD IN YOUR PORTRAIT PAINTING JASON WALKER 9-11 JANUARY